AOL's Accessibility Policy

Throughout the AOL organization, dozens of accessibility-related initiatives are underway at any given time. The institution of AOL's strong policy elevates these initiatives from "projects" to vital components in the company's business strategy. This generates support from all executive levels, dedication of resources, and accomplishment according to plan.

America Online Accessibility Policy

Published May, l999

America Online is continuing to lead efforts around the globe to make the Internet a medium that improves people's lives. At AOL, we value our members and strive to provide them with the highest quality, easiest, and most convenient services and products. We also believe that the Internet and AOL should be friendly and easy-to-use for all consumers, including those with disabilities. In that spirit, we have developed the America Online Accessibility Policy which expresses our commitment to the development of products and services that are accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.

Our policy is founded on three fundamental principles:

• Awareness



• Responsibility



• Collaboration

Accessibility Awareness

We believe that it is essential for our employees to be informed about the challenges faced by disabled users and the technologies available to improve the user experience. We believe that when the challenges confronted by disabled users are known, solutions can be incorporated in the research and design of software applications and information technologies. As part of the AOL Accessibility Policy, we are raising the awareness of employees with respect to accessibility issues through the following practices:

• We provide our employees with information describing the challenges faced by members of the disability community when attempting to access software applications and information technologies.



• We educate our employees with respect to how assistive technologies can help disabled users access software applications and information technologies.



• AOL will distribute to employees, and post on the AOL website, the AOL Accessibility Policy.

Taking Responsibility for Developing Accessible Products and Services

At AOL, we are integrating accessibility considerations into the research and design of products and services.

• We have designated an employee to serve as an accessibility officer, whose job responsibilities will include (i) the distribution to our employees of materials which describe the accessibility issues involved in the development of our products and services; and (ii) the planning of seminars and classes at which disabled users of our products and services will be invited to discuss the accessibility issues which they have encountered, developments in assistive technology and how accessibility best can be addressed in AOL products and services; and (iii) monitoring AOL's application of this Accessibility Policy to its products and services.



• Employees with principal responsibility for the development of products and services will consider and address on a regular basis issues relating to disability accessibility.



• AOL has established a product development Accessibility Checklist. The Checklist enables designers and publishers to identify important access issues when designing new products and services.



• AOL product group managers will consult and refer to the Accessibility Checklist when developing new products and services and consider that their decisions regarding accessibility reflect both intended applications and relevant business demands.
  
  
• Adhering to and furthering this accessibility policy will be a part of the evaluation of the job performances of relevant AOL employees.

Continuing Collaboration with the Disability Community

AOL values feedback from members of the disability community. We have worked closely with consultants who are themselves disabled and who are experts on accessibility issues presented by computer software applications and information technology. In addition, we have reached out to members of the disability community to seek their input on accessibility issues and their feedback on AOL products and services. We collaborate with the disability community by:

• Participating in national and international accessibility initiatives.



• Establishing the AOL Accessibility Advisory Committee, which will be composed of invited members of the disability community and AOL employees. This Committee will meet on a regular basis and provide strategic advice and counsel to AOL on disability and accessibility issues and report to the Accessibility Officer.



• Posting on our Website an e-mail address: AOLAccessibility@aol.com to receive comments and feedback from the public on accessibility.



• Eliciting regular feedback on new products and services by inviting members of the disability community to serve as beta testers.



• Providing information to our disabled members on how best to access our products and services.